DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson will return to the lineup tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes, after missing 12 games with a deep bone bruise in his left knee.

Defenseman Doug Janik was reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

"(Janik) was fantastic for us.
He took a regular shift, killed penalties, so we appreciate that,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "Now
we get to have the Big E back playing, moving the puck, killing
penalties and doing what he does. He’s been practicing a lot. If we didn’t think he was ready, he wouldn’t be playing.''

Babcock said he'll probably play Ericsson and Brett Lebda together to start but that Ericsson also will be paired with Brad Stuart.

"I’ve been skating now for the last week and a half. It feels good,'' Ericsson said. "When
you skate out there, there’s not a lot of game situations. Not a lot of
battling, going hard in short spurts, things like that. That’s been the
problem since I got back on the ice, small things, quick movements.
It’s a real test, the first game I’m playing.''

Brad May is back in the lineup and Ville Leino is a healthy scratch again.

Jimmy Howard will make his 10th consecutive start in goal.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, out since Nov. 21 with a sprained MCL, skated this morning, the first time he has been on the ice since Dec. 20. But Babcock said he still doesn’t seem to be reacting the way they would like.